November 28

170
LENIN COLLECTION

5837
RESOLUTION AND NOTES ON A LETTER FROM THE ELECTRO-TRUST
November 28, 1920

Comrade Sereda! *Return* this to me, please, after review and inform me: (1) is your order reproduced correctly and with complete accuracy? (2) is April 1, 1921 not too late? (3) is there information on the progress of work on this order?

Lenin

**Concerning the People's Commissariat of Agriculture's Order for Electro-Ploughing Equipment**

By order from September 24 of this year, No. 1181*, the Bureau for Electrification of Agriculture transmitted to us an order for:

1) 48 units of electric motors 60–75 h.p., 2,000 v., 730 r.p.m., with accessories.

2) 24 units of transformers 6,000/2,300 volts, capacity 70–80 kv.

3) 30,000 units of insulators.

4) 10,000 meters of flexible cable 3x6 sq. mm.

5) 6,000 poods of bare copper.

Item 3 has been ordered from the "Insulator" factory in Moscow, while items 4 and 5 have been transmitted to the Northern Cable Works.

According to a communication from the Production Section of the Electrical Industry Sub-department dated the 4th of this month, the latter two factories have unconditionally set the completion date for the order as April 1, 1921. These factories have made no statements regarding a shortage of raw materials, semifinished products, or labor.

*The question of "shock work" [ударность] is to be referred to the Production Commission of the Supreme Council of the National Economy for conclusion; the question of rations is to be referred to the Commission on Workers' Supply for conclusion.

Both conclusions within one week.

The question as a whole is postponed for hearing on December 1 with mandatory summons of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate, the Commission on Workers' Supply, the People's Commissariat of Labor, and the All-Union Central Trade Union Council (Protocol No. 592, item 11).*

On December 1, 1920, the Small Council of People's Commissars resolved:

"1) Recognize the presented program of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture as a fighting program and propose to the Supreme Council of the National Economy and the People's Commissariat of Agriculture to complete by the spring season of 1921—by April 1, 20 sets, and by April 1, 1922—30 sets of electro-ploughing implements.

2) Propose to the People's Commissariat of Agriculture to urgently draw up by January 1, 1921 an estimate for the completion of this work, with a subdivision of credits by categories of work to be performed.

3) Obligate the People's Commissariat of Agriculture and the Supreme Council of the National Economy to submit by January 1, 1921 a report on the progress of work in fulfilling the above-indicated program" (Protocol No. 596, item 16).

1920

As for the electric motors and transformers with accessories and switching apparatus, these in final form have been transmitted to factories No. 26, Siemens-Schuckert in Petrograd and the former Dynamo factory in Moscow in the following volume and with the following manufacturing deadlines:

1) 20 motors with accessories and 10 transformers are being manufactured by the former Siemens-Schuckert factory by April 1, 1921.

2) 10 motors with accessories and 5 transformers are being manufactured by the same factory by June 1, 1921.

3) 10 motors and 5 transformers are being manufactured by the former Dynamo factory by April 1, 1921.

We have taken measures to supply the factories with the necessary materials and we believe that the first-priority order of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture will be completed by the required deadline.

5888
NOTES ON A MEMORANDUM FROM THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF AGRICULTURE

*Return* both documents to me.

November 30, 1920

Having examined the memorandum from the "Elektrosila" section, the Department of Electrification of Agriculture hereby confirms the accuracy of the data in the communication No. 470 from November 25 of this year.

The difference in the number of motors (48 and 40 units) is explained by the fact that eight motors are being ordered as spares for replacement in case of damage to the main units. For these eight motors, the shortest deadline has not been determined; they will be built "as quickly as possible." Otherwise, all data corresponds to the actual order.

At the Petrograd factories and partly at the Moscow factories, work on the order is already underway, despite the fact that workers and employees are not receiving the promised basic and bonus rations.

The entire matter is being conducted and is progressing on trust and the authority of a number of active workers—a situation which is abnormal and which must be regulated by urgent confirmation of the entire arrangement concerning the order and in particular the provision of rations to workers and employees. *Who should confirm this?* The Council of People's Commissars? Why is the People's Commissariat of Agriculture not submitting it? And (1) concerning the order and (2) concerning rations? I request a reply.

As for the manufacturing deadlines, the People's Commissariat of Agriculture had in mind earlier deadlines, but the Electro-Trust asserts that it is unable to complete the order sooner.

The deadline for completion of the order by April 1 will make it possible to use the implements in the spring campaign. A July deadline is too late for the vegetable gardening campaign.

*Strange ambiguity.*

Lenin